Introduction
Tradesperson certificates are issued for 1, 3 or 5 years for the following categories of work:
- plumbing, draining and gasfitting
- medical gas and related mechanical services.
Who can apply online
You can apply online if you've never held a tradesperson certificate.
If you have a superseded qualification or are applying under mutual recognition you must apply in person.
Provisional tradesperson certificate
A provisional tradesperson certificate can be issued to overseas-trained applicants for 1 or 3 years for the following categories of work:
- plumbing, draining and gasfitting
- electrical
- air conditioning and refrigeration.
Note: A provisional tradesperson certificate cannot be renewed.
Eligibility
You must:
- be aged 18 or over
- be a fit and proper person to hold a tradesperson certificate
- have the necessary knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience for the relevant trade
- have a valid National Police Check (NPC) certificate that is no older than 4 months from the date of application
- not be a ‘disqualified person’ under the Home Building Act 1989 or another Act administered by the NSW Minister for Building
- not be a current apprentice or trainee in the category of work you are applying for.
Note:
- The National Police Check certificate can be issued by:
- NSW Police Force (if you live and work in NSW), or
- Australian Federal Police.
- If you live outside NSW, you can apply for a National Police Check in your state or territory.
What you need
To apply online you need:
- a MyServiceNSW Account:
- you can create one when you start your application
- you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, passport)
- copies of your qualifications in PDF, JPG or PNG format (certificates and transcripts from the registered training organisation)
- a valid National Police Check certificate
- for medical gasfitting categories, completed referee statement form showing 24 months' experience:
- your fee payment.
How to apply
Online
You can apply online if you've never held a tradesperson certificate.
- Check the eligibility requirements.
- Gather the required documents.
- Select the 'Apply online' button.
- Follow the prompts to apply for a tradesperson certificate.
In person at a Service NSW centre
You need to apply in person at a service centre if you hold or have held a tradesperson certificate, have a superseded qualification, or are applying under mutual recognition.
- Download and complete:
- Gather the required supporting documents as indicated on the form.
- Take your documents and payment to a service centre.
Payment and fees
You will need to pay a fee to make an application. For a list of fees go to Fees for contractor licences, supervision and tradesperson certificates.
You'll also need to pay a fee for a National Police Check if you need to get a certificate.
If you wish to apply in person at a service centre and would like to pay by cash, before you visit:
Privacy and personal information
To apply for a tradesperson certificate with Building Commission NSW, you’ll need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.
Using your tradesperson certificate
- You can only do the types of work described on your certificate.
- If you have a tradesperson certificate you cannot sign off your work. You must work under the 'general supervision’ of a person who can sign off your work and is the holder of a current:
- contractor licence or
- qualified supervisor certificate.
- Once your tradesperson certificate has been granted, you can use the Service NSW app to access your digital certificate.
Managing your tradesperson certificate
To find out how to change, renew, restore, replace or surrender visit the tradesperson certificate topic page.